Jeffrey Dahmer’s Childhood Home Can Be Rented During Republican Convention

If you’re looking for a rental during the Republican National Convention, look no further than Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood home. The single-story ranch in a suburban Akron, Ohio, is available for $8,000. If the real estate agent can find a renter, it may help focus some attention on the history of Northeast Ohio, something local leaders have been hoping would come out of the RNC.

The property is among several for rent by real estate company Howard Hanna during the Republican National convention. According to the property’s listing, for the rental price of $8,000, one lucky RNC attendee will not only get the opportunity to stay in Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home, they will have easy access to local shopping and natural resources. Smoking and pets are okay, too.

“Mid-century modern home with a true park-like setting. Smoking and animals okay. This is Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood home. Close to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Montrose shopping. Easy access to I-77 highway.”

Cleveland.com reports that Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home is believed to be the site of the notorious serial killer’s first murder. Authorities believe that Jeffery Dahmer, who was just 18 at the time, killed an 18-year-old hitchhiker by the name of Steven Hicks. Dahmer then reportedly dumped the body in the woods that make up the backyard of Bath Township home.

Following his first known murder, which took place in his childhood home, Jeffery Dahmer went on to take the lives of at least 16 additional victims in Wisconsin throughout the 1980s and 90s. Jeffery Dahmer was ultimately arrested for his crimes in 1991. He was then sentenced to life in prison but was murdered just three years into his sentence.

According to the current owner of Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home, Chris Butler, the house was listed as a temporary rental during the Republican National Convention as something of a lark. According to Butler, the listing of Jeffery Dahmer’s home may have also been a tongue-in-cheek dig at the Republican party. He said he was trying to see if he could “suck some Republican gelt from those people,” to the tune of $8,000.

“I did it for the heck of it.”

Chris Butler was once a member of the band The Waitresses, which was a new-wave 80s band that would have been in its heyday when Dahmer was an active serial killer. According to a segment on NPR in 2009, Butler described himself as being not just charmed but “instantly charmed” the minute he laid eyes on Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home while pulling into the driveway.

The listed realtor of Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home didn’t return a message requesting further comment about the property, and the home’s owner didn’t issue additional comments regarding Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home beyond his initial statement.

If you’re interested in dropping $8,000 to stay in Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood during the Republican National Convention, the property has three bedrooms and one and a half baths. It was also reportedly listed for sale back in 2014.

The real estate company listing the Jeffery Dahmer house for rent during the Republican National Convention has a special distinction. According to Crain’s Cleveland Business, Howard Hanna snagged an exclusive sponsorship deal with the Cuyahoga County Republican Party and is the official local real estate company of the RNC.

No word on whether the listing of Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home is some kind of publicity stunt for the Republican National Convention or just, as the home’s owner claims, an attempt to bank some of the free-flowing Republican cash that will be plentiful during the convention.

The Republican National Convention is scheduled to happen in Cleveland, Ohio, between July 18-21. If you’re going to be in town for the duration, you still have time to book a stay at Jefferey Dahmer’s childhood home if you hurry.

[Photo by Allan Y. Scott/AP]